Edward wasn't sure how they'd ended up following Ruthven and Zillah to the club. Something about the way the man talked, and man did he talk, compelled you to follow him. Ruthven twirled in the road in front of them, walking backwards and gesturing with his hands, dancing backwards and forwards to capture his audience. As he walked he told what Edward was sure was an edited version of his existence so far. He was very old, he announced, twinkling an eye at Harry who had blushed, Edward had noticed. He was, he announced airily, a distant cousin to that scandalous mortal Lord Byron.
'Do you know,' he drawled, 'one has been mistaken for him all too often but I'm so much more handsome,' the twinkle again, this time at Edward and now it was Edward's turn to feel the full force of that seductive charm. As they walked along, following their Pied piper like dutiful children Ruthven did not mentioned Dracula once. When he grew bored of spinning his tales about his travels and exploits, and there were many of those, he caught up with Zillah's' long strides ahead and tugged on his hand until Zillah slowed down and kissed him in the street. Ruthven didn't care. It seemed he didn't care about much, personal privacy being one of the things he disregarded entirely. He slapped shoulders and smiled broadly at the other night time party goers now crowding the streets as they neared the club. People smiled back, everyone seemed to like him enormously. The music of the club had been pounding from blocks away. The queue outside was long and Edward was secretly pleased to think they might just end up going home. Ruthven smiled winningly at the burly guy on the door. He shouted something and waved to indicate Edward and Harry, the red rope was unsnapped and they walked in front of the queue.
The music was loud, deafening for Edward until he adjusted to the volume. The beat thumped through the walls and the floor like a giant's heartbeat. Edward didn't know if Harry had ever been in a nightclub before, let alone a gay nightclub but one look at his face told Edward this was a first. Ruthven noticed too.
'A virgin!' he shouted in glee, causing several other clubbers to turn around and leer at Harry. Harry grinned back, clearly amused by the comment.
'That's what he thinks.' Harry stood on his toes to whisper in Edward ear. Edward grinned. Ruthven caught the exchange and smiled more broadly.
'Dear boys!' he exclaimed clutching his chest. 'How marvellous! You'll have to invite us over for an evening sometime.' Harry slid a glance at Edward's face. The vampire had gone even whiter, if that was possible. He smiled to himself, over a hundred years old and still shockable.
Zillah had found a table. This effort had mainly consisted of finding a table occupied by a couple of guys, obviously together. Zillah had tapped one on the shoulder and, as he turned, swept him into a hard, long kiss. When his partner stood up to object Zillah dragged him over too. When he let them go, the men walked away, dazed and surprised. Ruthven laughed and sat himself down.
'Zillah, darling. Drinks, I thinks!' he waved Zillah to the bar and Edward wondered where Zillah kept his money in those tight trousers. On second thoughts, maybe he didn't want to know. He turned to Ruthven.
'So, what do YOU want out of all this?' he stared accusingly, refusing to be charmed anymore. Ruthven's face was the most serious he'd seen it so far. He leaned across the table and spoke loudly enough for Harry to hear.
'I want to scupper that old bastard Dracula.' He enunciated clearly and then he leant back in his chair.
'Why?' Harry beat Edward to the question.
'Because he thinks he can order the rest of us around. He's old,' he shrugged, 'but he's younger than Zillah.' Ruthven turned to look over his shoulder. Harry and Edward turned too, to see a very young looking Zillah with his tongue down the barman's throat. The barman looked as if he was really enjoying it. So did Zillah. 'Bet the drinks are free,' laughed Ruthven, obviously unconcerned by Zillah's antics. 'So did Mina say exactly what the Count wanted?' Ruthven pronounced the name with a fake eastern European accent and smiled.
'Just some magic to help him stay hidden, was all she said,' answered Harry, looking back at the bar where Zillah now had another, very young looking guy in his arms.
'Obviously Harker is getting too old for him,' mused Ruthven arching his fingers into a steeple and resting his chin lightly on them.
'How old is she then?' asked Harry, not understanding.
'Not Mina Harked, dear boy, Jonathan Harker.'
'Who's he? Her brother?' Harry was even more confused. Ruthven slapped the table with a long pale hand.
'Ye Gods! Doesn't anyone read anymore?' he shouted in exasperation. A few other revellers looked over at them curiously. Ruthven leaned forward so Harry could hear him. 'Jonathan Harked is Mina's husband. He's a wizard, something the Stoker didn't dare mention,' he answered Edward's raised eyebrow 'Dracula used Mina to ensnare him and has kept them apart ever since. Jonathan is the Count's pet wizard, you might say.' Suddenly Harry understood the feelings he'd discerned from Mina. Love, longing and great sorrow. He tried to imagine being kept from Edward for hundreds of years, as some demented vampire's 'pet wizard', he shuddered. 'Just so dear boy,' sighed Ruthven as Zillah arrived with the drinks and a friend.
It was the very young boy Harry had seen at the bar. He smiled at them in a friendly way, obviously not understanding English. His long, blonde bob swayed gently as he sat down. He had very blue eyes and a wide, full mouth. Zillah sat down next to him, throwing an arm around Ruthven and his leg over the boy's knees. The boy smiled brilliantly into Zillah's dangerous eyes. Zillah's answer was to kiss him, deeply. Harry saw Zillah's pale fingers stroking up the boy's thigh and glanced away quickly. He looked at Edward. Edward was sitting immobile, a frozen look on his face. Of course, Harry realised, it was so much harder for Edward. He could hear what Zillah was thinking as well as see what his hands were doing. Harry swallowed as Zillah held the boy's head and pulled Ruthven over to join the kiss. He leaned back as Ruthven devoured the boy's mouth, running his hands through the ebony hair of his lover and the blonde tresses of the new friend. Edward stood up. The three broke the kiss and Ruthven looked up in surprise.
'We'll be going then.' Edward announced abruptly, clasping Harry's hand and dragging him to his feet too.
'Er yeah, bye,' stammered Harry, his mind still on the three men kissing each other.
'So soon?' Ruthven looked genuinely dismayed. 'I'd hoped we could all come and continue the party at your house Edward.' Harry felt Edward's hand clench. Then Ruthven waved an airy hand.' Never mind. There's always next time!' he stood up, 'I shall call upon you soon. Very soon.'
'What for?' blurted Harry.
'To discuss how we can turn Dracula's situation to our own advantage of course!' Ruthven was pulled back to the table by Zillah's beckoning hand on his arm. Harry watched as Zillah placed the hand back in the young man's crotch. Then Edward dragged him away.
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They were outside in the deserted alleyway, music muted by the thick walls of the old building which housed the club. Harry had been expecting a brisk walk home so he was surprised when Edward pulled him into a passionate embrace. He tried to think as Edward's hands found the waistband of the black jeans and snaked beneath the fabric. He stopped trying to think; his magic flared out from inside him swirling with pleasure. Delicate violet lights danced around the two boys. With his face pressed against Harry's ear Edward hissed.
'How did you feel watching those three?' his fingers were cruel but the pain only intensified Harry's pleasure.
'Turned on,' whispered Harry, knowing it was the answer Edward wanted to hear. Edward ground himself against Harry, his hand stroking Harry's sensitive flesh until Harry couldn't think of anything else. The magic was rising in waves now, as though Edward was playing on it like a piano.
'And how did you feel watching Zillah at my throat?' his voice was hoarse with lust now and his fingers stopped in their movement causing Harry to arch and moan.
'Turned on,' whispered Harry again, not sure where Edward was going with this line of questioning. The magic flickered from violet to lighter blue. 'How did you feel Edward?' It was Harry's turn to torment Edward through the hard fabric of the denim. Edward moaned in his ear, the sound sending Harry crazy with lust for his vampire lover.
'God turned on Harry. Really, fucking turned on. Knowing you were watching.' The last words hissed out as Edward's body began to move under Harry's hands. He couldn't stop himself; he was making noises he knew that people in the street queuing for the club must have been able to hear. Harry drew his magic to him, covered them, sealing them in a bubble of lust. Edward came, hissing air he didn't need through his teeth in Harry's ear. Harry gave him a moment to recover and, putting his hands on Edward's shoulders, pushed the vampire down until he knelt in front of him. Edward looked up and grinned as his fingers undid Harry's trousers.